Guelph Man Arrested Following A Chronic Stream Of Criminal Activity

On October 2, 2018 at approximately 7:12 a.m., Guelph Police were called to a residence on McElderry Road for a break and enter in progress. Police attended to the area and located the male in a stolen vehicle.

At this point, the stolen vehicle rammed a parked vehicle and accelerated at a high rate of speed on McElderry. The stolen vehicle then hit another parked vehicle and nearly hit a police cruiser head on. Police did not pursue the vehicle for public safety.

With the assistance of the O.P.P., the vehicle was located in the area of Cooks Mill Road and Carter Road a short time later. As a result of the investigation, Police have a concern for the safety of the public and the male that was involved in this reckless and dangerous incident.

Damian HITCHCOCK-HURST, a 22-year-old Guelph male is currently wanted for Break and Enter, Theft Under $5000 and two counts of breaching his Probation Order from an incident that occurred on August 31, 2018. HITCHCOCK-HURST is also wanted for Theft Under $5000, Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000 and breaching his Probation Order from an incident that occurred on April 7, 2018. As a result of this incident, Guelph Police sought a warrant for the arrest of HITCHCOCK-HURST for Break and Enter, Fail to Remain, Dangerous Driving, Flight From Police, five counts of Drive Disqualified, Possession of Stolen Property Over $5000, and two counts of Breaching his Probation Order.

On October 10, 2018, the Guelph Police High Enforcement Action Team was at a townhouse complex on College Avenue looking for the wanted party. Police located the wanted party in a different stolen vehicle and blocked the vehicle in. The vehicle then mounted a curb, and drove in the backyard/greenspace of the townhouse complex at a high rate of speed, travelled into oncoming traffic on College Avenue and ran a red light at the Hanlon Expressway. For public safety, police did not pursue the vehicle. Police sought another warrant for additional charges as a result of this incident.

On October 11, 2018 at approximately 12:30 p.m., with a joint effort from the Guelph Police Service Intelligence Unit, High Enforcement Action Team, as well as the O.P.P. Street Crime Unit, the male was located at an address in Cambridge outside of a stolen vehicle. After a foot pursuit, HITCHCOCK-HURST was arrested. Search incident to arrest, Police located several break and enter tools, bear spray, a credit card and cheques not in his name, as well as pills that are believed to be Morphine. HITCHCOCK-HURST will be charged with several other offences as a result of the arrest.

UPDATE: On September 29, 2018, Guelph Police began an investigation into vehicles that were entered into an apartment complex on Watson Road North. Through investigation, it was learned that the responsible party was HITCHCOCK-HURST. As a result, on October 24, 2018, HITCHCOCK-HURST was arrested and charged with two counts of breaching his Probation Order, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, and six counts of Drive Disqualified.